Items to declare

New Zealand has very strict biosecurity procedures at our international borders to prevent the introduction of harmful pests and diseases. All risk goods must be declared or be disposed of in marked amnesty bins at air and sea ports. If you're unsure – declare.

What you need to know

To make sure your arrival in New Zealand goes smoothly you'll need to know about:

Passenger Arrival Cards – these are usually given to you to complete by your crew on your way to New Zealand. The cards tell you what we consider are 'risk goods'

Included on this page:

Declare or dispose

Watch Officer Goodboy explain New Zealand's main biosecurity requirements and the importance of declaring or disposing.

Video – Pawder Patrol (1:39)

Transcript - show/hide

[A title “Border Patrol” appears above a conveyor belt of suitcases, then changes to read Pawder Patrol. A computer-animated dog, dressed as a biosecurity officer, stands behind the conveyor belt. He fumbles with a microphone clipped to his collar then walks toward the camera.]

[He sneezes, which sends him flying out of the bin in a cloud of spice.]

"Gets me every time.

[A moving conveyor belt carries a dirty tramping pack and bedroll.]

"Used outdoor equipment does too.

[Officer Goodboy sniffs some dirty outdoor equipment then turns up his nose. He points at the backpack.]

"Brrr. I don’t know what that’s been in, but that is not allowed! If they haven’t been declared though, you’ll be fined $400. Which, as we say in the industry, is ruff.

[He waits, then comes closer to the camera.]

"Hey, hey, hey. Take a few tricks from an old fella like me. Save yourself a heap of trouble by throwing any risk items in the airport amnesty bins after landing.

[A bin labelled “Dispose here please” is shown. Officer Goodboy ducks down and grabs a form – a passenger arrival card – in his mouth.]

"And be sure to fill out one of these puppies.

[He pulls the form out of his mouth with his paw. The form is covered in slobber.]

"And if you’re not sure what to do, just ask an officer like me, or my handler, who probably won't expect a treat afterwards.[A title appears that says 'Declare or dispose your items. Avoid a $400 fine'. Logos for the New Zealand government and MPI are also shown.]

[Officer Goodboy holds out the form then shakes it.]"Sorry, you might want to wipe the slobber off that one."

Note, the Passenger Arrival Card is a legal document. If you make a false or incorrect declaration – even by accident – you are breaking the law and you can be fined or put in prison.

It's not possible for us to list all the goods considered a risk. This is because an item's risk isn't always the same. It depends on things like the country it comes from, its ingredients, or packaging.

WHAT FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS CAN YOU BRING?

Use our tool to help you find out

We've got a tool to help you quickly get an answer about whether your food or other item is allowed into New Zealand. We don't have everything listed in the tool but it covers the food and other items we most frequently get asked about. The tool will also tell you whether there are any weight or quantity restrictions.

These products must be declared. They can contain animal dung and plant materials that may carry pests and diseases. If you are carrying any of these types of items, make sure you declare them or you can be fined.

Anything used outdoors – on farms, for hiking, camping, fishing, gardening and the like.

Used equipment, like sporting and recreational equipment, must be declared on your passenger arrival card.

This type of equipment can transfer soil and plant material from other countries into New Zealand that may carry pests, diseases, and seeds – all of which can pose a threat to our environment and wildlife. Some contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are not visible and may be present on used equipment that appears clean to the naked eye.

Equipment might be inspected on arrival so it should be easy to reach in your luggage.

If you are unsure about whether or not your equipment needs inspecting – declare it.

Used equipment includes:

all hiking and sporting footwear, including gaiters for tramping – or any footwear used outside of urban areas – which should be cleaned prior to arrival and be free of soil and seeds

tents and any camping equipment

all camping foods

hunting gear, including clothing and backpacks

any equipment used with animals such as:

farm footwear

vet supplies

horse riding equipment, saddles, and bridle gear

animal shearing equipment, including clothing used while shearing animals

gardening equipment

all equipment – like clothing, footwear and tools – used for work in industries such as horticulture, viticulture (wine production), apiculture (beekeeping), aquaculture (fish farming), and forestry.

fishing and water activity equipment including but not limited to:

diving equipment and wetsuits

waders, fishing rods, lines, hooks, flies.

MPI recommends you leave your felt-soled waders at home. Entry requirements are strict for this type of footwear. Plus you're not allowed to use felt-soled waders when fishing in freshwater (this is a Fish and Game Council prohibition). Felt-soled waders are likely to be seized at the border and directed for destruction, treatment, or reshipment.

Fishing flies are permitted entry but all non-artificial material for fly-tying must meet the conditions in the Import Health Standard for fibres.

How you can help protect our environment

Refer to 'Check, Clean, Dry' information for instructions on cleaning sporting and camping equipment before coming to New Zealand. Once in New Zealand – you can continue to protect our environment and wildlife by:

cleaning, checking, and drying your equipment when you move from location to location. This can help stop pests, like didymo, spreading between our rivers.

cleaning equipment and sticking to tracks to slow the spread of the disease that is killing our giant Kauri trees.

Many endangered species are needlessly destroyed to make souvenirs for travellers. By supporting the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreement and deciding not to buy goods made from endangered species, you can help save these rare plants and animals from extinction.

New Zealand is party to the CITES agreement. It covers items like:

coral

clam shells

Chinese medicines

products made from crocodile or alligator (such as jerky and souvenirs)

products made from snakeskin

products made from whalebone

turtle shell artefacts

ivory.

CITES items not allowed into NZ without a special permit

Any plant, animal, or product covered by the CITES agreement is not allowed into New Zealand, unless it is accompanied by a CITES permit(s). If you try to bring in items under the CITES agreement without appropriate permits, they'll be seized.

Find out more about endangered species and permitting requirements by visiting the:

Inspecting and assessing your risk items

MPI quarantine officers will make a risk assessment of your declared items by asking you more questions or through a visual inspection. Sometimes they will need to refer to legal documents called import health standards. In general, if there is not an import health standard (IHS) for your item, it can't be brought into the country. (Import health standards are not generally for specific items but are more generic. For example, there is not an import health standard for milk but milk is covered in the IHS Specified foods for human consumption containing animal products as a "dairy product").

For items that are covered by an IHS, the standard gives information including:

packaging requirements

countries the item can come in from

any paperwork required with the item

any treatments the item may require prior to coming to New Zealand or on arrival.

Note that import health standards can change without notice. For example, if there was a disease outbreak overseas.